VERY UNHAPPY :(

Hi,

I'm finishing off my 2nd year of film school, and over summer we're shooting a feature starting Jan 3.

I ordered a BMCC from zerothree.com.au - seems like ages ago - and was told November delivery. Great, plenty of time to test it out! Then I was told December. Now I am being told no guarantees on a December delivery. We need to organise a camera and test it!

But even worse, zerothree.com.au are telling me that:

"With BM orders, we are required to pay in full by BM on a 20% non-refundable basis".

Is this true? The guy has said they can only refund me 80% of the price if I cancel (which I have had to).

If this is true, it is RIDICULOUS. VERY, VERY UNHAPPY

While yes, this situation sucks.. It's not Black Magic who's really screwing you here, it sounds like the dealer is f--ing over people who are tired of waiting.

Some dealers only place orders based on what they know they have sold, so some charge non-refundable fees based on that.

My dealer has non refundable deposit too, but they understand that this whole deal is based on delays so what can you do but refund all money paid.

No way is that legal practice in Australia. Just tell them your next stop will be Consumer Affairs. Admittedly I havent lived in OZ for 10 years now but I would have been extremely confident with a call to the local CU office to clear that nonsense up pretty damn quick. Don't take that rubbish.

And as stated above that is not a BMD issue. Thats a vendor issue.

AJ, can you make your signature less distracting, please?

AJ, can you make your signature less distracting, please?

NP, done.

AJ, can you make your signature less distracting, please?

NP, done.

Thanks, though you didn't have to get rid of it. The bright big red text was glaring at me all the time

AJ, can you make your signature less distracting, please?

NP, done.

Thanks, though you didn't have to get rid of it. The bright big red text was glaring at me all the time

Yeah, I know... The shipping update thread is saying everything that needs to be said anyhow. I just want a solid update, I thought a big red distracting signature might produce some sorta of contact from BMD, even if it was them asking me to remove it.

Hahaha, I feel you, AJ.

Hey Matt,

I am in the same boat with the same dealer. They have been holding my 3K for months and telling me the same thing. They really cant do what they are claiming, if they are not ble to give you a delivery date and there have been substantial delays they can't keep your 20%. A company I will not do business with again. Go get some advice from consumer affairs, I will be heading that way soon as well by the looks of things.

Hey Matt,

I am in the same boat with the same dealer. They have been holding my 3K for months and telling me the same thing. They really cant do what they are claiming, if they are not ble to give you a delivery date and there have been substantial delays they can't keep your 20%. A company I will not do business with again. Go get some advice from consumer affairs, I will be heading that way soon as well by the looks of things.

Thanks for the advice, will do!

I've paid a 20% deposit to the same retailer. They had/have the camera listed at the best price.

Depending on the details in the next announcement by BMD I may consider requesting a refund of the deposit.

Given this was a preorder and taking into account the delays that consequently prevented notification of a definite date of delivery, a refund in full is not unreasonable - regardless of store policy.

Hi All,

My name's Darren from Zerothree down in Melbourne. Amongst our other specialised areas in video and audio production, we are really happy to be able to access the awesome BMCC and offer it as one of our many products.

Due the comments being left here and the self-propelling forum-based chat that seems to always ensue and they seems to gain momentum and become more like a wildfire with misinformation creeping in at every level.

Since it's release, we get an ETA that we have made no secret of but that's all it is. The ETA initially for us was 'about' late November for the very first orders but more likely, and this is what we have told pretty much all orders, December or eve later. We just don't know until stick starts moving. The BMCC is on heck of a bit of kit for the price as you all know -demand is very high and basic economics states that quite possibly there will be further delays.., As I say, we just don't know.

In order so save us heaps of admin trouble in, we have been clear on this and been taking pre-orders with 20% deposit - this is opt-in. You do not need to do this but if you want to order one, we ask that you do this simply because then we know you really do want one and are less likely to chop and change where you get your BMCC from. We'd like your custom and not only give you an amazing price but the support you'll get is something we pride ourselves on as you'll see from our Apple product testimonials over many many years.

Silly implications here that any dealer would be out to f* you over is just ridiculous. Unless of course you are buying from a non-Authorised dealer or eBay and the like... you may run into issues there of course.

So, I would like ti make very clear that if you have an order with us, and many do, although we'd prefer you not to cancel, if you're unhappy with the wait-times as it seems many are, then you are more than welcome to cancel and have your deposit returned without any sort of penalty.

Fingers crossed though, you'll stick with us. We're nice here - honest and really hope we see these soon. It'll make us all very happy. Feel free to call us 24/7 or visit the website 03.com.au

Hi All,
Silly implications here that any dealer would be out to f* you over is just ridiculous. Unless of course you are buying from a non-Authorised dealer or eBay and the like... you may run into issues there of course.

If you were here in the states, I would change my pre-order just because you abbreviated an F-Bomb in your official stance on refunding pre-orders.

seriously!!! I agree. What professional company does that? Plus you have misspellings and typos. Not very professional at all.

Hi All,
Silly implications here that any dealer would be out to f* you over is just ridiculous. Unless of course you are buying from a non-Authorised dealer or eBay and the like... you may run into issues there of course.

If you were here in the states, I would change my pre-order just because you abbreviated an F-Bomb in your official stance on refunding pre-orders.

While yes, this situation sucks.. It's not Black Magic who's really screwing you here, it sounds like the dealer is f--ing over people who are tired of waiting.

Hi All,
Silly implications here that any dealer would be out to f* you over is just ridiculous. Unless of course you are buying from a non-Authorised dealer or eBay and the like... you may run into issues there of course.

If you were here in the states, I would change my pre-order just because you abbreviated an F-Bomb in your official stance on refunding pre-orders.

They were responding to this derogatory post (see first quote above) earlier in the thread. The right of response is universal.

Hi ZeroThree,

Thanks for your input but I think the big issue here is that you want to be able to keep a 20% deposit from purchasers for basically no reason. In a situation (unfortunate, true) where we don't know when or if this camera is going to be delivered it feels like you are profiteering. The example is a user who needs a camera but hasn't got one, doesn't know when his BMCC will arrive, feels he has to break his order to buy something else but has to pay 20% to you. How do you justify this $560+ dollars profit 'for your troubles', I don't think you can, if you have paid it to BMCC well they sure as hell can't justify it at the moment. Terms and conditions have weight but they are not by any means the final word.

Under some legal advice something has been pointed out to me, given that you have taken this substanital amount of money (non refundable), you (not BMCC) have created a binding contract to deliver the camera, you also provided an estimated date. If this estimated date blows out much further you are going very close to a breach of contract, and in this case people could argue for loss of earnings. And if the camera doesn't eventuate ... well ... not pretty.

This is not where anyone wants this to head waste of everyones time and energy but consumer law in Oz favours (protects) the consumer. It may be in your T & C's and I understand you dont want anyone chopping and changing and by all means take happy for you to keep a small admin fee but taking his 20% is just wrong.

seriously!!! I agree. What professional company does that? Plus you have misspellings and typos. Not very professional at all.

Just wanted to clarify that I appreciate an open and honest company who doesn't mind dropping an F bomb. That said, the typos are troubling but I'm sure some folks are scrambling to get messaging to their customers. It's an understandably frustrating situation and quite frankly at this point, I don't begrudge a company for seeming flustered and rushed in their messaging. Heck, they could just not post right?

Just my thoughts.

Hi ZeroThree,

Thanks for your input but I think the big issue here is that you want to be able to keep a 20% deposit from purchasers for basically no reason......
.......It may be in your T & C's and I understand you dont want anyone chopping and changing and by all means take happy for you to keep a small admin fee but taking his 20% is just wrong.

So, I would like ti make very clear that if you have an order with us, and many do, although we'd prefer you not to cancel, if you're unhappy with the wait-times as it seems many are, then you are more than welcome to cancel and have your deposit returned without any sort of penalty.

Pretty sure he's saying here that you can have the deposit back...

Ahhh yes,

My apologies to ZeroThree. I read that paragraph twice and somehow misread. As penance I will keep my order with you till this time next year. At that point if the BMCC hasn't arrived I will be purchasing the GoPRo 8K 480fps Postage Stamp Camera with PL mount for $500.

I will be purchasing the GoPRo 8K 480fps Postage Stamp Camera with PL mount for $500.

Where can I preorder?! Uh no.. I never wanted to do that again oops

Just to let you guys know that the situation was resolved and I fully recommend zerothree.com.au as they do have by far the best price for the BMCC. Just a shame there have been such problems with the sensor manufacturers.
Matt